Olympic torchbearers have cashed in on their once-in-a-lifetime privilege by selling their torches on eBay.

Before the first day of the relay was completed, the gold torches appeared on the online auction site.

The torches have fetched more than £150,000. One torch used on Saturday is currently attracting bids of more than £30,000. The seller lists the item as: "An amazing sporting souvenir, be one of the first to have one!"

Some torchbearers have pledged to donate the proceeds from the sale to charity. One, who will be carrying the Olympic Flame on July 11, wrote: "I was chosen to be a torch bearer because of the money I've raised for various charities, many of them who have helped my son who has cerebral palsy."

Sellers have also auctioned off the uniform they wore while carrying the flame.

The London 2012 torch relay has entered its third day. Communities stretching from Exeter to Taunton will see dozens of unsung and hard-working individuals get their moment in the spotlight. They will carry the Olympic Flame alongside some of Britain's top sport stars.

Ashes-winning cricketer Marcus Trescothick and Olympic gold medal-winning triple jumper Jonathan Edwards are among more than 100 torchbearers who will get to hold the flame. The other torchbearers range in age from children from Minehead School to 91-year-old Arthur Gilbert.

Mr Gilbert will be one of the oldest of the 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame on the way to the July 27 opening ceremony. The nonagenarian, from Burnham on Sea, will carry the flame through Minehead. His nomination said he received an MBE in 2008 to recognise 35 years of charity work.

Mr Gilbert ran his first triathlon at the age of 68 and completed his most recent race in June last year in 2 hours 45 minutes 43 seconds.

"Arthur lost his son and his wife to cancer recently, looking after both of them at home and still keeping his training going," his nominator said.

"He is a shining example to all the young people who use the local sports facilities and has a large following of supporters."